Petunia plant named ‘DAMORJOY’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DAMORJOY’ is disclosed, characterized by a mounded growth habit combined with very good branching on plants of medium vigor. The flower color is burgundy purple with white stripes. The flowers are large and plants flower abundantly. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DAMORJOY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia hybrida cultivar is a product of a planned breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to producenew Petunia varieties with novel flower color patterns and largeflowers. The cross resulting in this new variety was made duringNovember of 2013.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to asPetunia ‘cv. 12-6189’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Petunia ‘cv. 12-6657’. The new variety wasdiscovered in July of 2014 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from the 2013 crossing, in a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ was first performedby terminal vegetative cuttings during July of 2014, at a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in more than 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DAMORJOY’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DAMORJOY’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

-   -   1. Mounded growth habit.    -   2. Very well-branched plants with medium vigor.    -   3. Flowers color is burgundy purple with white stripes.    -   4. Large flower size.    -   5. Abundant flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Petunia ‘cv. 12-6189’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The seed parent has a trailing growth habit, the new variety        is mounded.    -   2. The new variety produces many more branches per plant.    -   3. Flower color of the seed parent is white with purple stripes,        flowers of the new variety are burgundy purple with white        stripes.    -   4. Flowers of the new variety are larger than those of the seed        parent.    -   5. The new variety flowers more abundantly.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Petunia ‘cv. 12-6657’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ differ inthe following;

-   -   1. The pollen parent has a semi upright growth habit, the new        variety is mounded.    -   2. Plants of the pollen parent are more vigorous, with slightly        less branching than the new variety.    -   3. Flower color of the pollen parent is magenta with white        stripes, the new variety is burgundy purple with white stripes.    -   4. Flower size of the pollen parent is larger than the new        variety.    -   5. The new variety flowers more abundantly than the pollen        parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Petunia hybrid ‘Cascadias Bicolor Cabernet’. Thesevarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,‘DAMORJOY’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of this comparator is smaller than the flower of        the new variety.    -   2. Flower shape of the comparator is rounded, while the flower        of the new variety is more star-shaped.    -   3. Plant habit of the comparator is semi-trailing, the new        variety has a mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORJOY’ can also be compared to thepatented commercial variety Petunia hybrida ‘DRAY67’, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 25,906. These varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, ‘DAMORJOY’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of the comparator is smaller than the flower size        of the new variety.    -   2. Flower color of the comparator is black with yellow stripes,        while the new variety has burgundy purple flowers with white        stripes.    -   3. The comparator plant is taller than the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DAMORJOY’ grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical mature flower of ‘DAMORJOY’during Spring. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 90 daysfrom a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DAMORJOY’ plants grown in greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during April of 2015. The plants were approximately 90 daysfrom a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature rangedfrom 20° C. to 35° C. during the days, 17° C. to 23° C. during thenights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia hybrida ‘DAMORJOY’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10-14 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Fibrous. Colored tan and white, not accurately    measured with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounded.-   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm.-   Height: To top of flowers: about 25 cm.-   Plant spread: About 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Medium.-   Branching characteristics: Very well branched.-   Length of primary lateral branches: About 25 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: About 0.4 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 8.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—About 0.3 to 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146 C.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Good.-   Internode length: About 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 26 per branch.        -   Average length.—6.0 cm.        -   Average width.—3.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Velvety.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Velvety.        -   Aspect.—90 degrees.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green N137 B. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green N137 C. Mature foliage upper            side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A. Mature foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 C. Venation color under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 0.4 cm. Color:            RHS Yellow-Green 146 C.        -   Texture.—Velvety.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring, Summer and Autumn in Beit Dagan,    Israel.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 30 days.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, single flower,    salverform shape, erect habit.-   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 3 to 6 days.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: About 60.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 150 C with stripes Red-Purple 59 A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—1.2 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—0.3 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—About 3 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Apex.—Blunt.        -   Margin.—Slightly wavy, entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple N79 B with 5            stripes, Red-Purple 71 A. Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple N79            D with 5 stripes, Yellow-Green 150 D.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 71 A with 5            stripes, White N155 C. Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple 71 B            with 5 stripes, White N155 C. Flower throat (inside): RHS            Yellow-Green 150 D with Veins, Yellow-Green 150A and 5            stripes Red-Purple 71 A with veins Purple 79B. Flower            throat, vein: RHS Purple 79 B. Flower tube (outside): RHS            Yellow-Green 150 D with 5 stripes, Purple 79 B. Flower tube,            vein: RHS Yellow-Green 150 A.        -   Fading.—Petals fading to: RHS Purple N78 A with 5 stripes,            White N155 C.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Green 137 B. Lower Surface: RHS            Green 137 C.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Green 137 C.        -   Orientation.—45 degrees.-   Peduncle: Not present.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146 B.        -   Orientation.—45 degrees.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—About 2.2 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Color.—RHS Violet-Blue 95 D.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Blue 106 C. Quantity: Abundant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Style.—Length: About 2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145 C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B. Ovary            Color: RHS Yellow-Green 143 A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 80 Brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5 mm    diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Petunia have been observed. Typical    well known diseases include: Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium,    Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia species. Typical well known pests    include: Leaf miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly    caterpillars.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates a range between 5° C. to 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plantnamed ‘DAMORJOY’ as herein illustrated and described.